White Denim

It's OK. You can admit it. We've all made fun of white denim at some point in our lives. Blame Miami Vice. Blame fashion writers like us. None of it matters because thanks to the imaginations of designers, stylists, and celebrities alike, white denim has found itself square in the middle of a modern revival.

White denim works because it at once looks pristine and rugged, dressy and casual, clean and daring. Almost anything goes with white denim, but there are a few tricks to keep in mind. Because white denim tends to look more like a pant than your blue jeans, it's best to wear them slim, tailored, and a touch short. Wearing them with white shoes or sneakers can go a little overboard, OK sailor? And now more than ever, don't be afraid to wear them after Labor Day! Denim is robust and insulating; as long as you stick to wearing them on bright, sunny days, they can be perfect companions to your legs in the cooler months.

As the thermometer drops, the way to wear white denim changes. Rough and textured fabrics on your torso will not only add some suave depth to your look, but will keep you seasonally appropriate. Try wearing knits like a cardigan, sweater vest, or even just a great new sweater on top. Light wash denim jacket or chambray shirts are also great ways to pull off this season's denim-on-denim look and still give the illusion of texture. Don't forget to work off of shades. Neutral tones like creams, dirty whites, and grays look smart and will give you the perfect opportunity to accessorize with one great pop color. If you've got a pair of shoes, sneakers, a bag, or a tie that's impossible to match, this is a failsafe way to get away with wearing them.

Because white denim looks ready to dress up, it makes a great substitution for pants when wearing a blazer and shirt. You can easily work in a nautical theme by pairing them with a navy blazer, or you can play with textures by wearing a tweed sports coat.

Because they're denim, you can also dress them completely down by throwing on a pair of work boots and a chunky sweater. You can get away with wearing a pair of baggy or distressed white jeans this way, too.

White denim no longer lives in a box. Weather you want to dress up, dress down, warmly, coolly, or just mix things up, now might just be the perfect time to add a pair of white jeans to your wardrobe.